Narratives of Racially/Ethnically Diverse Genderqueer & Non-binary Identities in the U.S. Context of Trans*normativity and Whiteness

Abstract

Genderqueer and non-binary (GQNB) people are increasingly recognized within the gender-diverse community, yet how they navigate the sociocultural constructions of GQNB identity remains underexamined. This article examines the constructions of GQNB identity at the intersection of racial-ethnic identity among 19 racially diverse GQNB college students at an elite, predominantly white, Midwestern university. Participants completed a one-on-one semi-structured interview regarding their experiences with the expectations others hold about their identities. Using thematic analysis, we identified five related themes that characterize participants’ identity-relevant expectations: (a) Racial/Ethnic Stereotypes, (b) Queer Normativity, (c) Privilege & Power, (d) Binary Rigidity, (e) Educating Others. We then analyzed how participants negotiate these expectations using the master narrative framework to interlace personal and societal identity narratives. Rigidity regarding how to be GQNB demonstrates the transactional nature of identity as individuals internalize and resist sociocultural norms. Implications for the broader literature on gender identity and its development are discussed.